Device and method for making hot water or the like

ABSTRACT

A device for making hot filtered water comprising a filter unit for filtering water, a first chamber for receiving the filtered water, a tubular heater connected to the first chamber, a hot water temperature optimizer connected to the heater outlet for ensuring the temperature of the hot water to be optimized for drinking or steeping bags, a first dispensing station connected to the optimizer for dispensing hot water therein into a cup and a second dispensing station connected to the first chamber for dispensing cold water therein into a cup. The optimizer comprises an inlet connected to the heater, a second chamber, an outlet, and a vent that is opened into the first chamber in a first embodiment of the invention or connected to a brew station for making coffee in a second embodiment. Alternatively, the optimizer comprises a closable inlet connected to the heater and a bi-metal heat activating valve for controlling the size of the closable inlet. Method for making a cup of hot filtered water without interrupting coffee brewing at the brew station includes placing a cup below the first dispensing station, opening the first dispensing station, causing at least part of the hot water to exit through the optimizer outlet and the first dispensing station into the cup when the water reaches the temperature predetermined at least partly by the optimizer and while the coffee extraction continues in the brew station, closing the dispensing station to cause the hot water to exit through the vent into the brew station again after the cup is full.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for makinghot water for direct consumption or tea or the like use. Particularly,the present invention relates to a device and method for making hotwater, either filtered or unfiltered, and delivering the hot water intoa cup for direct use or to flavor-containing materials for brewingbeverage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hot water is commonly used for direct drinking, steeping tea bagsand numerous other uses at homes and in offices. The most commonapparatus for use in making hot water at homes and out of homes aremicrowave ovens and electric or gas ranges. Although such apparatus heatand boil water in a container well, they can neither provide hot waterat a predetermined temperature below water boiling point nor provide hotwater in a continuous fashion. Hot water has also been provided byunder-sink water heaters in which the water from a plumb system areheated and stored prior to being dispensed. Such under-sink heaters alsowork well, but they are difficult to install and causes energy waste dueto heat loss to environment during the storage of hot water.

[0003] Hot water can also been made by automatic drip coffeemakers byheating and pumping water to the brew head and the brew basket below inwhich there is no coffee grounds. The hot water is received in a carafebelow the brew basket. The resulting hot water, however, often has veryunpleasant “burned” smell. The hot water can not be received in anyother container such as a cup or bowl because the “pause and serve”feature on the brew basket works only with the carafe. The user mayremove the basket from the coffeemaker to allow water to drip into heror his desired container such as a cup. Unfortunately, such desiredcontainer is most likely to be too short to receive hot water from thebrew head directly. In addition, safety is a concern since the hot wateris gushed out shot by shot.

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention intends to provide a deviceand method to provide consumers better tasting hot water at more definedtemperature than existing water heating apparatus. The present inventionalso intends to provide consumers a very low cost and safe device tomake hot water or/and related beverages. The present invention furtherintends to provide a device and method for minimizing energy need whenmaking hot water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a newdevice and method for making cold and hot filtered water. The devicecomprises a removable water filter unit for making filtered water, afirst chamber for receiving the filtered water from the filter unit, atubular heater connected to an opening on the bottom of the firstchamber, a hot water temperature optimizer connected to the heateroutlet of the tubular heater for ensuring the optimized temperature forthe hot water, a first dispensing station connected to the optimizeroutlet of the optimizer for dispensing hot water in the optimizerdirectly into a receptacle such as a cup, and a second dispensingstation connected to the bottom part of the first chamber for dispensingcold water therein directly into a receptacle such as a cup. Theoptimizer comprises an optimizer inlet connected to the heater, a secondchamber, an optimizer outlet and a vent that opens into the firstchamber in a first embodiment of the invention or connected to a brewstation having a brew head and a brew basket for holding a supply ofcoffee grounds and extracting the grounds to make coffee in a secondembodiment of the invention. In a third embodiment, the optimizercomprises a housing, a closable inlet connecting the heater inlet to thehousing, an housing outlet and a bi-metal plate for partially pluggingthe closable inlet when the temperature of water entering the housing isbelow the optimized temperature for drinking or steeping tea bags andfully opening the closable inlet when the temperature of water enteringthe housing is above the optimized temperature

[0006] Method for making hot and cold filtered water includes fillingthe reservoir of the removable filter unit with water from a waterfaucet and placing the filter unit back into the first chamber. Place acup below the second dispensing station and opens the valve if the userwants a cup of cold filtered water or place a cup below the firstdispensing station, turn on the heater and open the valve if the userwant a cup of hot filtered water. After the water in the heater reachesthe temperature predetermined at least partly by the hot watertemperature optimizer, the hot water will be delivered to optimizerchamber through the optimizer inlet and exit through the optimizeroutlet and the first dispensing station into the cup. After the cup isfull, the user moves the valve shaft downward to stop the flow of coldor hot filtered water.

[0007] Method for making a cup of hot filtered water for steeping tea orfor direct drinking without interrupting the coffee brewing in thebasket includes placing a cup below the first dispensing station andmoving the valve shaft upwards. After the water in the heater reachesthe temperature predetermined at least partly by the optimizer, the hotwater will exit through the optimizer outlet and the spout of the firstdispensing station into the cup. After the cup is full, the user movesthe valve shaft downward to close the dispensing station, causing thehot water to exit through the vent and tube into the brew basket again.It is appreciated that while the hot water is dispensed into the cup atthe dispensing station, the coffee extraction in the basket continues todrip into the carafe.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device andmethod for making better tasting hot water at optimized temperature forsteeping tea bags for direct drinking.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide adevice and method to make both cold and hot filtered water with a singledevice.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide adevice and method to make both coffee and hot filtered water forsteeping tea bags with a single device at the same time.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide adevice and method to dispense hot filtered water instantly.

[0012] These and other objectives and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiments, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] The accompanying drawing illustrates diagramaticallynon-limitative embodiment of the invention, as follows:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative to the hot watertemperature optimizer 63 of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of theinvention;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 4;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line B-B of FIG. 5;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternative device to those ofFIG. 1 and 4 for making hot water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1A for use in making and dispensingfiltered cold water and filtered hot water into a cup (not shown) foruses such as steeping tea bags or direct drinking. Device 1A comprises aremovable water filter unit 8 for making filtered water, a first chamber6 for receiving the filtered water from the filter unit, a tubularheater 15 connected to opening 20 on the bottom 7 of the first chamber6, a hot water temperature optimizer 63 connected to the heater outlet41 of the tubular heater via a elastomer tube 40 for ensuring theoptimized temperature for the hot water, and a dispensing station 70 aconnected to a optimizer outlet 68 of the optimizer via a hot waterpassageway 6 for dispensing hot water directly into a receptacle such asa cup. The chamber 6 has a lid 2 connected to the chamber by a hinge 3.

[0022] The removable water filter unit 8 comprises a water reservoir 5having a bottom 27, a filter cartridge 28, an reservoir outlet chamber52 located below the bottom 27 for receiving the filter cartridge, acylindrical support 25 formed around the outlet chamber and having aplurality of openings 26 for allowing air and the filtered water to passthrough, an automatic valve 55 for automatically closing the reservoiroutlet 52 when the filter unit is removed from the first chamber 6, anda handle 4 for assisting the handling of the filter unit 8. Thecartridge 28 has a porous upper wall 30, a porous bottom wall 32, a sidewall 56, filter materials 31 such as ion-exchange resins and activatedcarbon enclosed by the walls, and a ball shaped handle 29 forfacilitating the removal and mounting of the cartridge. The top part ofthe side wall is slightly thickened to engage with a step 57 on thereservoir outlet chamber 52 to prevent the cartridge from being pushedinto the bottom of the outlet chamber. The porous bottom wall 32 isattached to side wall 56 by either heat welding or mechanical locking.

[0023] The automatic valve 55 comprises an opening 51 formed on thebottom 36 of the reservoir outlet 52, a seal disc 35 for sealing theopening 51, a keeper disc 38 connected the seal disc via a stem 50, aspring for loaded to pull the seal disc downward to seal the opening 51,and an actuation member 49 for pushing the keeper disc and thus the sealdisc upwards when the filter unit 8 is mounted to or into the chamber 6.

[0024] It is appreciated that all of the filter unit, except the filtercartridge 28, can be fixed to the device. For example, the reservoir 5can form the upper part of the first chamber 6 to receive unfilteredwater while the lower part of the chamber 6 is used to receive thefiltered water from the filter cartridge 26 mounted in the reservoiroutlet chamber 52 (not shown). In this example, the automatic valvebecomes not necessary.

[0025] The heater 15 is housed in a bottom chamber 11 sealed by a bottomplate 10 having at least three legs 9. The heater comprises a tubularheating channel 42 having an heater inlet 17 and heater outlet 41, atubular heating element 12 having electric connector pins 16 in heatconducting relation to the tubular heating channel, a first and secondthermostats 14 a and 14 b for controlling the heating element. Theheater inlet is connected to opening 20 of the bottom plate 7 through acheck valve 46. The check valve has a seal ball 18 kept in place below acylinder 47 by a keeper 22 and a stem 19 that connecting the keeper tothe seal ball. A elastomer tube 45 can be used to connect the heaterinlet 17 to the cylinder 47. The first thermostat is configured to allowthe water in the heater to be heated to generate steam pressure todeliver the heated water to the optimizer 63. The second thermostat isconfigured to keep the water in the heater at a temperature below waterboiling point when the device 1A is not in use, thereby reducing thewaiting time needed to make a cup of hot water.

[0026] It is appreciated that the heater 15 may adopt any non-tubularshape. For example, the heater may adopt a cylindrical shape in whichthe heater inlet 17 is formed on the top of the cylindrical heater andthe heater outlet 41 at the bottom of the heater (not shown). Such anarrangement has the advantage of allowing the steam to rise andaccumulate above the water in the heater for more efficient delivery ofthe hot water by steam pressure.

[0027] The hot water temperature optimizer 63 is located in space 58formed between the filter unit 8 and the first chamber 6. The optimizercomprises an inlet tube 62 having a lower end 39 connected to the heateroutlet 41 through elastomer tube 40 and a upper end 61 as the optimizerinlet, an optimizer chamber 65, a vent 60 at the top wall 59 of theoptimizer chamber and an optimizer outlet 68 connected to dispensingstation 70 a. The vent 60 for the optimizer chamber 65 opens into thefirst chamber 6. The exact roles of the optimizer are not wellunderstood yet. However, it is understood that without the optimizer 63,the temperature of the hot water varies significantly as the water levelin the first chamber 6 changes. Specifically, the temperature of the hotwater is unacceptably low when the water level in the chamber 6 is high,and unacceptably high when the water level in the chamber 6 is low. Itis also noticed that without the optimizer, cold water runs through thedispensing station even when the heater 15 is off. It is also realizedthat the optimizer can help making the water flow substantiallycontinuous if the optimizer chamber is sufficient large and thedispensing station is adequately restrictive. It is also noticed thatthe first chamber 6 and even the filter unit 8 become sterilized orcleaned by hot water and/or steam when the heater 15 is turned on andthe dispensing station 70 a is closed as a result of the re-circulationof the hot water and/or steam between the heater 15 and the firstchamber 6 through the vent 60.

[0028] It is appreciated the vent 60 may be optional when the optimizerchamber 65 is sufficiently large. It is appreciated that the optimizerinlet 61 and outlet 68 may be located at different positions in theoptimizer 63. In one extreme, the optimizer outlet 68 may be locatednear the top and the optimizer inlet 61 at the bottom of the optimizerchamber 65. In this case, the hot water passageway 69 a needs to berelatively long and arranged relatively vertically to position thedispensing station a safe distance, preferably only slightly higher thana cup, from the countertop to reduce hot water burning to the user orchildren. It is also appreciated that the hot water temperatureoptimizer 60 may be located at other locations of the device 1A, such aslocated at or near the top of the first chamber 6.

[0029] The dispensing station 70 a for the hot water comprises a body 67a having a spout 71 a located at its lower end, a valve shaft 75 ahaving a handle 66 a for allowing the user to move the shaft up to openthe spout and down to close the spout. An o-ring or other type of seal72 a may be used to achieve sufficient seal to prevent any leakage whenthe spout is closed.

[0030] The device also has a second dispensing station 70 b (FIG. 2),which can be identical in design to dispensing station 70 a, is attachedto the side wall of the first chamber 6 near its bottom for dispensingcold filtered water directly to a cup for direct drink or other use. Awater cooling system 34 is located near the dispensing station 70 b forfurther cooling the cold water in the chamber 6 before dispensing. Awater level indicator 77 is located on the side wall of the chamber 6 toindicate to the user the amount of cold filtered water available.

[0031] It is appreciated that the dispensing stations 70 a and 70 b canbe any types of spigot or faucet. It is also appreciated that thedispensing station can be as simple as a spout without any valvemechanism to control the flow and as complex as a spout with a solenoidvalve. It is also appreciated that the first chamber 6 or the reservoir5 of the filter unit 8 can be connected directly to an external watersource such as a plumbing system.

[0032] To make hot and cold filtered water, one fills the reservoir 5 ofthe filter unit 8 with water from a water faucet and places the filterunit back into the first chamber 6. The user then places a cup below thedispensing station 70 b and moves the valve shaft 66 b upwards if he orshe wants a cup of cold filtered water. If the user want a cup of hotfiltered water, she or he places the cup below the dispensing station 70a, turns on the heater and moves the valve shaft 66 a upwards. After thewater in the heating channel 45 reaches the temperature predetermined atleast partly by the hot water temperature optimizer 63, the hot waterwill be delivered to optimizer chamber 65 through optimizer inlet 61 andexit through the optimizer outlet 68 and the spout 7 a into the cup.After the cup is full, the user moves the valve shaft downward to stopthe flow of cold or hot filtered water.

[0033]FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration for the hot wateroptimizer 63. The alternative is substantially similar to that of FIG. 1except that a flow inverter 99 is formed on the top wall 59 for changingthe hot water flow from the optimizer inlet 61 from the original upwarddirection to the downward direction, thereby reducing the loss of hotwater from the vent into the first chamber 6. The flow inverter hasinverting chamber 23 for receiving the optimizer inlet 61, a flowchannel opened downward between the tube 62 and the inverting chamber 23and a passageway 24 for communicating the optimizer chamber to the vent60. It is appreciated that other flow deflector may be used to changethe direction of the hot water into the optimizer chamber 65. It is alsoappreciated that the flow direction of the hot water from the optimizerinlet can be changed by angling or bending the tube 62.

[0034] FIGS. 4-6 show an alternative device 1B for making hot water. Thealternative is substantially similar to that of FIG. 1 except that thevent 60 b is connected to an elastomer tube 79 (FIG. 4) to a brew head88 (FIG. 6). The brew head 88 has a hot water distributor 87 fordistributing the hot water from the tube 79 to the flavor-containingmaterials (not shown) in a brew basket 90, a receiving station 85 forthe hot water from the tube 79, and a cover 86. The brew basket 90 has achamber 91 for receiving a filter and flavor-containing materials, anextraction discharging spout 95, and filter support bottom 94 havingnumerous channels 92 for leading the extraction from the filter todischarging spout 95. The brew head is permanently connected to the topof a half-cylindrical wall 81 while the brew basket is removablyconnected to the half-cylindrical wall. It is appreciated that theoptimizer 63 can be located at or in the brew head or the brew basket.It was found that if the water distributor is made restrictive the brewhead itself could also be made to function as the optimizer. In thiscase the receiving station also functions as the second chamber and theoptimizer outlet and vent are added to the brew head. When thedispensing station is open, at least a substantial amount of hot waterreaching the second chamber or the receiving station will exit throughthe optimizer outlet and dispensing station due to the restrictivenature of the water distributor.

[0035] The method of making hot filtered water with this device 1B issimilar that with the device 1A. To make coffee, the user places afilter paper into the brew basket 90, put the desired amount of groundson the filter and place a carafe (not shown) below the extractiondischarging spout 95. Make sure the dispensing station is closed andturn on the heater 15. Water will be delivered from the heater throughthe vent 60 b of the optimizer 63, the tube 79, distributor 87 and tothe flavor-containing materials in the basket. A head of water willdevelop in the basket to facilitate the seeping of the hot water throughthe grounds and into the carafe below the discharging spout 95. If theuser decides to make a cup of hot filtered water for steeping tea bagsor for drinking directly essentially without interrupting the coffeeextraction in the basket, he or she simply places a cup below thedispensing station 70 a and moves the valve shaft 66 a upwards. Afterthe water in the heating channel 45 reaches the temperaturepredetermined at least partly by the hot water temperature optimizer 63,the hot water will exit through the optimizer outlet 68 and the spout 71a into the cup. After the cup is full, the user moves the valve shaftdownward to close the dispensing station, causing the hot water to exitthrough the vent 60 b and tube 79 into the brew basket again. It isappreciated that while the hot water is dispensed into the cup at thedispensing station 71 a, the coffee extraction in the basket 90 continueto drip into the carafe below the discharging spout 95.

[0036]FIG. 7 shows another alternative device 1C for making hot and coldfiltered water. The alternative is substantially similar to that of FIG.1 except the hot water temperature optimizer 63 a. The optimizer 63 acomprises a closable inlet 93, a housing 97, a thermal-mechanical device96 above the closable inlet and mounted to the hosing, and an outlet 100connected to the dispensing station 71 a via hot water passageway 69 a.The thermal-mechanical device is adapted to change its shape ordimension to plug or partially plug the closable inlet when thetemperature of the water entering the housing 97 is below apredetermined temperature and to fully open the closable inlet when thewater temperature is above the predetermined temperature. The device maycomprise a bi-metal plate or coil or wire that has two metals or othermaterials which are attached to each other but have different thermalexpansion properties.

[0037] The scope of the invention is obviously not restricted to theembodiments described by way of examples and depicted in the drawings,there being numerous changes, modifications, additions, and applicationsthereof imaginable within the purview of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage maker for making hot water or the likecomprising: a first chamber for receiving water, said first chamberhaving a chamber outlet; a check valve located in or downstream saidchamber outlet to allow water to flow out of said chamber but preventreverse flow; a heater for heating and pumping water, said heater havinga heater inlet for receiving water from said chamber outlet, a heatingelement, a water heating section for conducting heat from said heatingelement to the water therein, and a heater outlet, said heater beconfigured to work with said check valve to allow the steam generated insaid heating section to force the heated water out of said heateroutlet; a dispensing station comprising a spout in communication withsaid heater outlet for dispensing the hot water directly into areceptacle such as a cup; and a hot water temperature optimizer locateddownstream said heater outlet for achieving an optimized temperature forthe hot water, said optimizer comprising a second chamber for containingan amount of hot water, an optimizer inlet for the hot water to entersaid second chamber from said heater outlet, and an optimizer outlet forleading the hot water in said second chamber to said dispensing station.2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing station is aspigot or faucet.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidoptimizer inlet is so located that it is normally above the water levelin said first chamber, thereby preventing the cold water in said firstchamber from entering said second chamber.
 4. A device as defined inclaim 3 wherein said dispensing station is adapted to be below the waterlevel in said first chamber to reduce the distance the hot water fallsbefore reaching the receptacle such as a cup, thereby reducing thedanger of the user or child being burned by the hot water during thedispensing.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said optimizerfurther comprises a vent for said second chamber to prevent theformation of any substantial pressure or vacuum therein.
 6. A device asdefined in claim 5 wherein said second chamber is adapted to hold ansufficient amount of hot water to enable flow out of said dispensingstation while said heater is still heating and preparing for deliverythe next pulse of hot water in said heating section, thereby making thehot water flow out of said dispensing station substantially continuous.7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said optimizer inlet isadapted to prevent the hot water coming from said heater from shootingtowards or into said vent, thereby preventing or reducing loss of hotwater from said vent.
 8. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein saidoptimizer further comprises a flow director for changing the flowdirection of the hot water from said optimizer inlet in said secondchamber.
 9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said flow directorcomprises a deflector located a certain distance from said optimizerinlet for substantially thwarting the flow momentum of the hot waterfrom said optimizer inlet.
 10. A device as defined in claim 8 whereinsaid flow director comprises a section of bent tube for directing thehot water away from said vent.
 11. A device as defined in claim 5wherein said vent is adapted to vent into said first chamber.
 12. Adevice as defined in claim 11 wherein said vent is adapted to allowsteam and/or hot water to flow into said first chamber from said secondchamber when the dispensing station is closed, thereby causing saidfirst chamber to be sterilized or at least partially sterilized.
 13. Adevice as defined in claim 5 further comprising a brew station having afilter or basket for receiving flavor-containing materials such ascoffee and a brew head for introducing hot water to theflavor-containing materials, said brew head being connected to said ventto allow the hot water in said second chamber to reach said filter orbasket when said dispensing station is closed.
 14. A device as definedin claim 5 wherein at least one of said optimizer inlet and saidoptimizer outlet is normally located above the water level in said firstchamber.
 15. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said optimizeroutlet and said dispensing station are so located that said secondchamber can be substantially drained through said dispensing station,thereby avoiding the accumulation of stale water in said optimizer. 16.A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said heater further comprises afirst thermostat configured to allow said heating element to heat thewater therein and to generate steam pressure to deliver the heated waterto said second chamber and a second thermostat configured to allow saidheating element to keep the water in said heater at a temperature belowwater boiling point when said device is not in use, thereby reducing thetime needed to make a cup of hot water.
 17. A device as defined in claim1 wherein said heating section adapts an elongated tubular shape.
 18. Adevice as defined in claim 1 wherein said heating section comprises aheating chamber for containing all or substantially all the water forsaid heater, said heating chamber being configured to have said heateroutlet to be at or near its bottom and to allow steam to accumulateabove the water therein, thereby allowing hot water to be delivered tosaid second chamber before steam.
 19. A device as defined in claim 1further comprising a filter unit for allowing said device to makefiltered hot water.
 20. A device as defined in claim 19 furthercomprising a second dispensing station located at or near the bottompart of said first chamber for dispensing cold filtered water into areceptacle such as a cup.
 21. A device as defined in claim 20 furthercomprising a water cooling unit for cooling the filtered water before itis dispensed at said second dispensing station.
 22. A device as definedin claim 19 wherein said filter unit is adapted to be removably mountedto or in said first chamber and comprises a water reservoir, anreservoir outlet in communication with said first chamber and a filtercartridge in said reservoir outlet for filtering the water.
 23. A deviceas defined in claim 22 wherein said filter unit further comprises avalve for closing said reservoir outlet, said valve being adapted toengage with a actuation member at or in said first chamber toautomatically open said reservoir outlet when said filter unit ismounted to or in said first chamber.
 24. A device as defined in claim 1wherein said first chamber is adapted to receive water from an externalwater source such as a water filter or a plumbing system.
 25. A deviceas defined in claim 1 further comprising a brew station for makingbeverage such as coffee, said brew station comprising a filter or basketfor receiving flavor-containing materials and a water distributor incommunication with said second chamber for introducing the hot water tothe flavor-containing materials.
 26. A device as defined in claim 25wherein said water distributor is located sufficiently higher than saidoptimizer outlet so that the hot water will preferably exit through saiddispensing station when said dispensing station is open.
 27. A device asdefined in claim 25 wherein said water distributor is restrictive sothat at least a substantial amount of hot water reaching said secondchamber exits through said dispensing station when said dispensingstation is open.
 28. A device as defined in claim 25 further comprisinga hot water passageway for connecting said dispensing station to saidoptimizer outlet, said hot water passageway being adapted to havesufficient length and/or height to allow said dispensing station to be apredetermined height above countertop, said predetermined height beingpreferably about the height of a drink cup.
 29. A beverage maker formaking hot water or the like comprising: a first chamber for receivingwater, said first chamber having a chamber outlet; a check valve forsaid chamber outlet to allow water to flow out of said chamber butprevent the return flow; a heater for heating and pumping water, saidheater having a heater inlet for receiving water from said chamberoutlet, a heating element, a water heating section for conducting heatfrom said heating element to the water therein, and a heater outlet,said heater being configured to work with said check valve to allow thesteam generated in said heating section to force the heated water out ofsaid heater outlet; a hot water temperature optimizer located downstreamsaid heater outlet for achieving an optimized temperature for the hotwater, said optimizer comprising a second chamber for containing anamount of hot water, an optimizer inlet for the hot water to enter saidsecond chamber from said heater outlet, and an optimizer outlet; a brewstation having a filter or basket for a supply of flavor-containingmaterials such as coffee and a water distributor in communication withsaid second chamber for introducing the hot water therein to theflavor-containing materials; and a dispensing station such as a spigotor faucet connected to said optimizer outlet for dispensing the hotwater directly into a receptacle such as a cup.
 30. A device as definedin claim 29 wherein said optimizer further comprises a second optimizeroutlet in communication with said water distributor and located apredetermined distance above said optimizer outlet to allow a water headto build up in said second chamber to cause the hot water therein toprefer to flow out of said optimizer outlet when said dispensing stationsuch as a spigot or faucet is open.
 31. A device as defined in claim 29wherein said water distributor is restrictive to allow at least part ofthe hot water in said second chamber to exit through said optimizeroutlet, therefore through said dispensing station, when said dispensingstation such as a spigot or faucet is open.
 32. A device as defined inclaim 29 further comprising a filter unit for allowing said device tomake filtered hot water.
 33. A device as defined in claim 32 furthercomprising a second dispensing station located at or near the bottompart of said first chamber for dispensing cold filtered water into areceptacle such as a cup.
 34. A device as defined in claim 32 whereinsaid filter unit is adapted to be removably mounted to or in said firstchamber and comprises a water reservoir, an reservoir outlet incommunication with said first chamber and a filter cartridge in saidreservoir outlet for filtered the water.
 35. A device as defined inclaim 34 wherein said filter unit further comprises a valve for closingsaid reservoir outlet, said valve being adapted to engage with aactuation member at or in said first chamber to automatically openingsaid reservoir outlet when said filter unit is mounted to or in saidfirst chamber.
 36. A method for using a device in claim 29 comprising astep of filling said heater with water from said first chamber, a stepof heating and delivering the heated water to said optimizer, a step ofintroducing the hot water from said optimizer to said filter or basketto extract the flavor-containing materials therein, a step for the hotwater to seep through the flavor-containing materials and drip into acarafe, and a step of opening said dispensing station to dispense thehot water into a cup while the hot water already in said filter orbasket continues to seep through the flavor-containing materials anddripping into said carafe.
 37. A method for making hot water and brewingcoffee substantially simultaneously comprising: a step of filling aheater with water from a first chamber; a step of heating and deliveringthe heated water to a second chamber; a step of introducing the hotwater from the second chamber said to a filter or basket to extract theflavor-containing materials; a step for the hot water to seep throughthe flavor-containing materials and drip into a carafe; a step ofopening a dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet connected to thesecond chamber to dispense the hot water into a cup withoutsubstantially interrupting said step for the hot water to seep throughthe flavor-containing materials and drip into a carafe since there isnormally sufficient amount of hot water accumulated in the filter orbasket due to the slow nature of the seeping process; and a step ofclosing the dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet when the cupis full, which causes to all the hot water in the second chamber to beintroduced to the filter or basket.
 38. A beverage maker for making hotwater or the like comprising: a chamber for receiving water, said firstchamber having a chamber outlet; a check valve for said chamber outletto allow water to flow out of said chamber but prevent the return flow;a heater for heating and pumping water, said beater having a heaterinlet for receiving water from said chamber outlet, a heating element, awater heating section for conducting heat from said heating element tothe water therein, and a heater outlet, said heater being configured towork with said check valve to allow the steam generated in said heatingsection to force the heated water out of said heater outlet; a hot watertemperature optimizer located downstream said heater outlet forachieving an optimized temperature for the hot water, said optimizercomprising an optimizer inlet for the hot water to enter said secondchamber from said heater outlet, an optimizer outlet and a thermalmechanical device for controlling the size of said optimizer inlet, saidthermal mechanical device being adapted to fully or substantially fullyopen said optimizer inlet when the hot water is above a predeterminedtemperature and to at least partially close said optimizer inlet when isabove said predetermined temperature; and a dispensing station such as aspout connected to said optimizer outlet for dispensing the hot waterdirectly into a receptacle such as a cup.